Timeframe: During the Original Trilogy
Characters: Mara Jade, Emperor Palpatine
Summary: Series of drabbles, posting five at a time.
Notes: Part of the Third Drabble Challenge.



Arm

Jade closed the hatch on the nondescript shuttle she used for this mission, moved towards the cockpit, and prepared for departure.  Before handling the controls she carefully wiped any remaining blood off of her gloves.  She contacted the spaceport and waited for her turn to leave the planet without thinking any more of the gruesome task she just finished.  It wasn’t like she enjoyed injuring or even taking lives.  She enjoyed being good at her job, and when that job is to be the strong yet unseen portion of the arm of the Emperor’s law, you don’t dwell on missions.

Leg

She came out of the pirouette into the closing pose with perfect poise and grace.  No one was watching her dance in the hold of the cargo ship she was flying, and that was how she liked it.  The skill had been one she needed to gain access to certain beings, but it was also one she could form and make her own.  While she always got a thrill practicing with her weapons and combat maneuvers, the simple movements of dance brought a peace within herself that she would only admit in secret she knew she lacked and desperately needed.

Antennae

His voice in her head never bothered her, it was simply there.  She never stopped to think of it as odd or unusual.  Instead she took pride in the fact that no matter where she was in the galaxy, she could hear his commands clearly.  His words—whether they be orders, compliments, or criticisms—were as much of a part of the constant workings of her mind as thoughts about what to eat or how to most efficiently take down an opponent.  It was not a stronghold over her, simply a part of her identity as the Emperor’s Hand.

Claw

She picked up the smooth, black stone and began to run the length of the metal blade of the knife along it.  The scraping noise made the young officer sitting next to her in the control room cringe slightly, but she ignored him.  Keeping her eyes on the banks of vid screens she waited for her mark to make an appearance.  She wasn’t planning on using the knife for the mission, but she wanted everyone to know that it was one of the many weapons she carried in her deadly arsenal.  The officers occasionally needed reminded just how dangerous she was.

Tail

She had not removed her outer cloak when she left the shuttle.  She didn’t take it off when speaking with the captain on the bridge of the Star Destroyer, nor when the nature of the discussion prompted him to move it to his ready room.  It flowed behind her as she reboarded the shuttle and left.  Others probably thought the long hem of the robe was for a dramatic effect when they watched it swish behind her retreating form.  But she knew it was handy at picking up any interesting particulates that weren’t supposed to be on the crew’s boots.